About

Over a decade ago, Bouf was born in London. The inspiration was the capital’s iconic Spitalfields market. The aim was to transport that same creative Spitalfields energy, derived from sellers and makers, and we’ve gone on to become the UK’s favourite online marketplace.

In late 2017, bouf.com re-launched under new management.

We’re all about ensuring our customers can easily find that perfect item – whether its browsing for a special gift, a treat for your home or even some sparkle for you (go on!). All of this combined in our easy to use online marketplace, and products courtesy of some of the best artistic designers on the web!

LATEST NEWS

BHS proves that IP is a speed dial to quick returns

An innovative e-commerce site, bouf.com, which specialises in household and lifestyle products, has been successfully re-launched under new management.

In September 2016 the brand, website and international franchise business of department store giant, BHS, were acquired from insolvency. These critical IP assets were then used to launch an online-only business, which reported an increase in sales for the final quarter of 2017 of more than 40%, bolstered significantly by sales of home accessories.

This deal clearly demonstrated the power of IP in facilitating business turnarounds, particularly in the e-commerce and retail sectors.

Stephen Robertson of Metis Partners, the IP valuation firm, commented “Acquired IP can give immediate access to revenue streams whilst minimising the disruption to business, which gives the buyer a real opportunity to retain existing customers.” This was, in fact, the case with Bouf.com.

Bouf.com which initially began trading more than a decade ago, suffered financial difficulty in 2017. The IP assets, including the brand, website, database, software and e-commerce platform were successfully packaged, marketed and sold by Metis Partners in a short timeframe, which minimised the disruption to business. This enabled a smooth transition to the buyer, a vehicle led by James Coughlan, who re-launched the business and managed to keep existing customers that were loyal to the brand.

Mr Coughlan, said: “Since re-launching the new site, we have been overwhelmed by positive feedback and are thrilled to welcome vendors and customers back to the UK’s favourite marketplace.”

Bouf.com’s brand was synonymous with the creative spirit of London’s iconic Spitalfields Market, curating the best designs and work in furniture, lighting, wallpaper and homeware from over 500 artists and suppliers, and giving them a digital presence. The investment in IP assets creating a strong competitive advantage is set to continue under new management:

“With the new foundations firmly in place, we look forward to working with our partners and raising our brand profile in the coming months. We are committed to providing an optimum experience, across both desktop and mobile – focused devices, on driving sales and loyalty for the long-term. Our 2018 development and marketing roadmap reflects this ambition.”

Having successfully leapfrogged other market entrants by commercialising existing IP assets, Bouf.com can now focus on new developments. Coughlan plans to pursue AI to refine the shopping experience through conversations with the customer and meeting the challenge of integrating with digital personal assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, or Google Home.

He said: “We are fully aware of how important it is for bouf.com to grow and evolve, beyond its previous form, ensuring it is well-poised to deliver a unique buying and selling experience, versus the competition.”

Morven Fraser of Metis Partners, who oversaw the sale of the IP assets said: “It’s great to see an IP asset sale resulting in a fresh new start for a business. Bouf.com is going from strength to strength, and new innovation is sure to increase the brand’s ability to attract new customers.”

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